Color ready wig and method

ABSTRACT

A color ready wig and a method for making the same is disclosed. The color ready wig comprises a substrate having a plurality of hair strands with the hair cuticle being removed from the strands. The substrate accepts any dye or hair coloring for training purposes without bleaching the substrate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a color ready wig and method. Moreparticularly, the present invention is directed to a device for dyinghair that includes a substrate formed from a number of strands that mayaccept any dye or coloring without applying bleach to the substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART

Hair colors and dyes are known in the art. Generally, the hair must bebleached prior to the application of hair color or dye. This can be timeconsuming and can result in many different operations being performedprior to the actual coloring process.

Hair includes an outer cuticle, which is defined as an outermost part ofthe hair shaft. It is a hard shingle-like layer of overlapping cells,some five to twelve deep. It is formed from dead cells, which formscales that give the hair shaft strength and do the best job ofproviding protection.

The hair cuticle is the first line of defense against all forms ofdamage; it acts as a protective barrier for the softer inner structureincluding the medulla and cortex. The cuticle is responsible for much ofthe mechanical strength of the hair fiber. A healthy cuticle is morethan just a protective layer, as the cuticle also represents thestructure that controls the water content of the fiber. Much of theshine that makes healthy hair so attractive is due to the cuticle. Thehair cuticle is also said to be water resistant.

Cuticles are often damaged by excessive mechanical manipulation such asbrushing, using heat (like using curling irons) or chemical processing(for example, permanent applications processes or texturizers). Everydayelements, such as the sun or wind can also cause wear and tear on yourhair and damage the hair cuticles as well.

Although the cuticle is the outermost layer of the hair, it does notgive the hair its color because it has no melanin, which is the pigmentresponsible; the color of a person's hair depends on what type ofmelanin they have, which is found in the cortex. Also cuticle cells maybe elongate, acuminate (gradually tapering to a point), ovate (eggshaped), or flattened.

Generally, in order to dye hair bleach is applied, which is timeconsuming. Thereafter, the bleach is removed and the hair is colored.There is a need in the art for an operation where dying can be expeditedand facilitated. For example, there may be instances where a customerwill enter a shop seeking a wig, or an article having at least one hairthat is a predetermined color. The color may be exotic. Generally, priorart solutions will send out for such a colored wig, and the customer maybe told that a period of time is needed to obtain the colored wig.However, the present disclosure obviates this lag time and may provide aspecific color in a rapid and superior manner. For example, a cuticlemay be removed from the hair in order to speed the hair coloringprocess. For example, a number of different ready to color wigs may bemanufactured and sold to an intermediate vendor or end user. Thisintermediate seller may quickly dye the wig and complete the saleutilizing the ready to color wig. Additionally, a training school mayuse the ready to color wigs in order to speedily color the wigs forinstruction purposes. There is also a need in the art for a method thatwill allow the application of hair color or dye to a wig, hair extensionor mannequin head where the hair on the wig, hair extension or mannequinhead has been pre-bleached and is ready to receive color or hair dye.

The present invention recognizes that this is time consuming. Thepresent invention thus provides a color ready wig that has been preparedto receive hair color or dye. This results in a color ready wig that isideal for dying purposes. Thus, where the hair cuticle has been removedend users may freely color the wig and dye the article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda color ready wig or substrate. A wig as defined herein is amanufactured covering of natural or synthetic hair for the head. Thecolor ready wig includes a plurality of hair strands with the cuticlebeing removed from the strands. The hair strands are pre bleached andready to accept any dye or coloring.

In an alternative embodiment, the substrate of the wig comprises anartificial hair. The substrate is utilized as a mannequin's hair. Inanother aspect, the substrate of the color ready wig, hair extension ormannequin head may comprise natural hair. In another embodiment, thesubstrate is utilized as a hair extension. The substrate may alsocomprise a plurality of hair bundles.

The substrate may include a plurality of threads of hair for receiving adye. In a further aspect, the present invention may further comprise amannequin head being connected to the substrate or a base support and anadhesive tape being connected to the base support. In yet anotheraspect, the present invention may further include applying a permanenthair color to the substrate. In another embodiment, the presentinvention may include applying a non-permanent hair color to thesubstrate or may include untreated raw human hair strands as thesubstrate.

In one aspect of the method of the invention, the hair cuticle isremoved by a sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloric acid. The sodiumhypochlorite and hydrochloric acid is mixed and applied to the substrateto remove the cuticle. In another embodiment, ammonia may be applied tothe substrate. The ammonia interrupts the removal of the cuticle fromthe substrate. In another aspect, a hydrogen peroxide is applied to thesubstrate after the ammonia is applied.

In a further aspect, the method of the invention may further comprise anacid being applied to the substrate for a predetermined time intervalfor removal of a cuticle and a second material being applied to the acidand the substrate for a second time period after the first predeterminedtime interval for interrupting a cuticle removal. The firstpredetermined time interval may be different than the second timeperiod.

In another aspect, the method of the invention may further include anoxidizing agent being applied to the substrate or a hair dye beingapplied for a time period of one to sixty minutes and then rinsing thehair dye from the substrate.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a methodcomprising forming a training device that comprises a substrate. Thesubstrate may also include a plurality of strands. The method alsoincludes removing a cuticle from the strands to prepare the strands toaccept any dye or coloring without the need to further bleach thesubstrate. In another aspect, the method may include arranging thesubstrate as a wig, wherein the wig comprises the plurality of strands.The method also includes that the cuticle is removed by a sodiumhypochlorite and hydrochloric acid. The method also may include mixingsodium hypochlorite and hydrochloric acid, wherein after it is mixed; itis applied to the substrate to remove the cuticle.

The method may also further comprise applying ammonia, wherein theammonia is applied to the substrate to interrupt the removal of thecuticle from the substrate. The method, in an additional embodiment mayfurther comprise applying hydrogen peroxide to the substrate after theammonia. In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the methodmay further comprise adding a dye to the substrate, wherein thesubstrate comprises a natural hair, or wherein the substrate comprisesan artificial hair, or wherein the substrate is utilized as amannequin's hair. The method may also include that the substrate isutilized as a hair extension.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the method may also includeadding a body for mating with a user as a skin, and forming in the skina plurality of holes for ventilation. The substrate may also, in anotherembodiment, comprise a plurality of hair bundles.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the method may furthercomprise applying an acid to the substrate for a predetermined timeinterval for removal of a cuticle and applying a second material to theacid and the substrate for a second time period after the firstpredetermined time interval. This is for interrupting a cuticle removal.The first predetermined time interval may be different than the secondtime period.

In another aspect, the method may also include connecting a mannequinhead to the substrate, or providing a base support and an adhesive tapebeing connected to the base support. In a further aspect, the method mayfurther comprise applying a permanent hair color to the substrate. Inanother aspect, the method may further include applying a non-permanenthair color to the substrate. The method may also further include forminguntreated raw human hair strands as the substrate. The method may alsoinclude adding an oxidizing agent to the substrate and applying a hairdye for a time period of one to sixty minutes and then rinsing the hairdye from the substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of bundles of hair extensions that havebeen pre-treated by the method of the present invention to be ready toreceive color.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of hair extensions that have beenpre-treated by the method of the present invention to be ready toreceive color.

FIG. 3 illustrates a color ready wig applied to a mannequin.

FIG. 4. is a process flow chart illustrating several differentembodiments for the method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an another process flow chart illustrating a differentembodiment for the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is yet another process flow chart illustrating a differentembodiment for the method of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a process flowchart for preparing a ready to color wig usingan automated device that is operatively connected to a processor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a number of strands of hair 10 that are arranged inhair bundles 12 in which the hair cuticle has been removed and thestrands may advantageously be colored using a dye without any need foradditional bleaching of the hair 10. In one embodiment, the present hairbundles 12 or substrate may be utilized for training purposes. Forexample, a color ready wig 50 (as shown in FIG. 3) may include asubstrate having a plurality of strands 10 with a cuticle being removedfrom the strands and wherein the substrate accepts any dye or coloringfor training purposes without the need for bleaching of the substrate.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a number of strands of hair 10that are arranged in hair mesh 30. Strands 20 illustrate the hair withthe cuticle and original hair color, whereas strands 10 show the hairwith the cuticle having been removed and ready to receive color or hairdye without the need for additional bleaching. Strands 10 have undergonea process according to the present disclosure in order to remove acuticle from the hair and a second process to interrupt thede-cuticlization process and then the hair strands are free to receive acolor or dye without any bleach added, which is a time saver for hairprofessionals. Alternate strands 10 have undergone at least a firstprocess in order to remove the cuticle form the hair strands 10 and asecond process to interrupt the first process and thereafter, the hairstrands 10 may be dyed or colored as known in the art without undergoingadditional bleaching which is time consuming. For example, the method ofmaking the ready to color wig 50 (as shown in FIG. 3) may includeobtaining a color ready wig 50 that comprises a substrate a having aplurality of strands 10. The method also includes removing a cuticlefrom the strands 10, wherein the substrate accepts any dye or coloringfor training purposes without bleaching the substrate.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mannequin 40 that includes a wig substrate 50. Thewig substrate 50 is color ready where the strands of hair 10 are colorready and may be utilized as a template where a student may color thehair without additional bleaching. In one embodiment, the wig 50 may beutilized as a ready to color wig 50, which is sold to an end user, whomay quickly color the wig in a predetermined color. The substrate hasundergone a cuticle removal process and a second process to interruptthe cuticle removal process in order to treat the hair. In this manner,a user may train on the wig hair 50 of the mannequin 40 in order toapply dyes and coloring as known in the art without any additionalbleaching. In this embodiment, the wig substrate 50 may include a baselayer with a number of apertures contained therein for ventilation inthe event that the wig substrate 50 is utilized for a human being.

FIGS. 4-6 illustrate embodiment methods for the present inventiongenerally shown as a number of method steps. The method may be performedin a different order than the order shown and some steps may beperformed in a different or simultaneous order or some steps can beomitted without departing from the present invention. The methodincludes forming a color ready wig or hair extension that comprises asubstrate a having a plurality of strands as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Inblock 100, hypochlorite and hydrochloric acid are mixed. The mixture isapplied to the hair. In block 105, a cuticle is removed from the hair.In block 110, ammonia is applied to the mixture and the hair tointerrupt the decuticlization process. In lock 115, peroxide is appliedto the hair. This peroxide is to prepare the hair for coloring. Thesubstrate accepts any dye or coloring without additional bleaching ofthe substrate. The method may include arranging the substrate as a wig,wherein the wig comprises the plurality of strands or may include adifferent substrate that includes synthetic or real hair. The cuticlemay also be removed by any other method known by one reasonably skilledin the art. In one embodiment, the materials may be added at the sametime and mixed utilizing a container and a tool. In another embodiment,the mixture may be mixed utilizing a commercial vessel and commercialprocess with a motorized tool and mixing apparatus.

The method also may include mixing sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloricacid, wherein after it is mixed; it is applied to the substrate toremove the cuticle in block 105. Thereafter, the method may be allowed atime to remove the cuticle, which can be a predetermined time period.Thereafter, the method is preferably interrupted.

The method may also further comprise applying ammonia in block 110,wherein the ammonia is applied to the substrate to interrupt the removalof the cuticle from the substrate. The method, in an additionalembodiment may further comprise applying hydrogen peroxide to thesubstrate after the ammonia in block 115.

Turning now to FIG. 5, blocks 120-135, there is shown an alternativemethod according to the present disclosure utilizing a substrate havinga number of hair threads in block 120. In block 120, a substrate isprovided for example for supporting one or more strands. The methodincludes removing a cuticle from the strands in block 125. The substrateaccepts any dye or coloring without additionally bleaching thesubstrate. The method may include arranging the substrate as a wig,wherein the wig comprises the plurality of strands or may include adifferent substrate that includes synthetic or real hair. The methodalso includes that the cuticle is removed by a sodium hypochlorite andhydrochloric acid, which is mixed, or by utilizing different acids, orany other material that may remove the outermost shell in a rapid andsafe manner. A different mixture may be used to remove the cuticle aswill be appreciated by one reasonably skilled in the art. In a preferredembodiment, the materials may be added at the same time and mixedutilizing a container and a tool. In another embodiment, the mixture maybe mixed utilizing a commercial vessel and commercial process with amotorized tool.

The method also may include mixing sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloricacid, wherein after it is mixed; it is applied to the substrate toremove the cuticle in block 125. A time period later, the method may beallowed a time to remove the cuticle, which can be a predetermined timeperiod. Thereafter, the method is preferably interrupted.

The method may also further comprise applying ammonia in block 130,wherein the ammonia is applied to the substrate to interrupt the removalof the cuticle from the substrate. The method, in an additionalembodiment may further comprise applying hydrogen peroxide to thesubstrate after the ammonia in block 130. In a further embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the method may further comprise the substratecomprises an artificial hair, or wherein the substrate is utilized as amannequin's hair in block 135. The method may also include that thesubstrate is utilized as a hair extension.

Turning now to FIG. 6, steps 140-155 there is shown an alternativeembodiment of the present disclosure. In another aspect of the presentdisclosure, the method may also include adding a body for mating with auser as a skin, and forming in the skin a plurality of holes forventilation in block 155. The substrate may also in another embodimentcomprise a plurality of hair bundles.

As shown the method in FIG. 6, steps 140-155 includes applying an acidto the substrate for a predetermined time interval in block 140. This isfor removal of a cuticle and the method may then include applying asecond material to the acid and the substrate for a second time periodafter the first predetermined time interval for interrupting a cuticleremoval as shown in blocks 145-150. The first predetermined timeinterval may be different than the second time period. The substrate mayalso comprise a plurality of threads of hair. The method may alsoinclude connecting a mannequin head to the substrate after applyingperoxide to the hair to prepare the hair for coloring. Alternatively,the ready to color wig may be applied to a base support and an adhesivetape being connected to the base support as shown in block 155. Themethod may also further include forming untreated raw human hair strandsas the substrate. Various configurations are possible and within thescope of the present disclosure.

In FIG. 7, the ready to color wig or substrate may be made in anautomated manner utilizing a commercial mixing device and an automationdevice that is operatively connected to a processor that executes thesteps shown and described above. For example, the automatedmanufacturing device may comprise a processor 62 that includes an ALU,or logic unit, registers, and control unit that is operatively connectedto a bus 66. Processor 62 is connected to a memory 74 and is operativelyconnected to input and output device 68. The processor 62 is alsoconnected to a display 72 and a network 76. The processor 62 isconnected to a commercial mixing device to formulate the color ready wigor hair extension and substrate.

The various embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.References made to particular examples and implementations are forillustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention or the claims.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, andalgorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosedherein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or software depends upon the particular application and designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentinvention.

The hardware used to implement the various illustrative logics, logicalblocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspectsdisclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purposeprocessor, a digital signal processor (DPC), an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) orother programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic,discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed toperform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor maybe a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be anyconventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. Aprocessor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices,e.g., a combination of a DPC and a microprocessor, a plurality ofmicroprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DPCcore, or any other such configuration. Alternatively, some steps ormethods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a givenfunction.

In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosedherein may be embodied in a processor-executable software module, whichmay reside on a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage media may beany available media that may be accessed by a computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, such as, non-transitory computer-readablemedia may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium that may be used to store desired program code in the formof instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by acomputer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD),laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, andblu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, whilediscs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of non-transitorycomputer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method oralgorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/orinstructions on a tangible, non-transitory machine readable mediumand/or computer-readable medium, which may be incorporated into acomputer program product.

The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the following claims and theprinciples and novel features disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 1: A color ready wig comprising: a substrate havinga plurality of strands with a cuticle being removed from the strands;and wherein the substrate accepts any dye or coloring without the needfor bleaching of the substrate. 2: The color ready wig of claim 1,wherein the cuticle is removed by a sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloricacid. 3: The color ready wig of claim 2, wherein the sodium hypochloriteand hydrochloric acid is mixed and applied to the substrate to removethe cuticle. 4: The color ready wig of claim 3, further comprisingammonia applied to the substrate, wherein the ammonia is to interruptthe removal of the cuticle from the substrate. 5: The color ready wig ofclaim 4, further comprising hydrogen peroxide to the substrate after theammonia. 6: The color ready wig of claim 5, further comprising adding adye to the substrate. 7: The color ready wig of claim 1, wherein thesubstrate comprises a natural hair. 8: The color ready wig of claim 1,wherein the substrate comprises an artificial hair. 9: The color readywig of claim 1, wherein the wig is affixed to a mannequin head. 10: Thecolor ready wig of claim 1, wherein the wig is a hair extension. 11: Thecolor ready wig of claim 1, wherein the wig comprises a plurality ofhair bundles. 12: A method comprising: forming a color ready wig thatcomprises a substrate a having a plurality of strands; removing acuticle from the strands; wherein the substrate accepts any dye orcoloring without bleaching the substrate. 13: The method of claim 12,wherein the cuticle is removed by a sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloricacid. 14: The method of claim 13, further comprising mixing sodiumhypochlorite and hydrochloric acid is mixed and applied to the substrateto remove the cuticle. 15: The method of claim 14, further comprisingapplying ammonia, wherein the ammonia is applied to the substrate tointerrupt the removal of the cuticle from the substrate. 16: The methodof claim 15, further comprising applying hydrogen peroxide to thesubstrate after the ammonia. 17: The method of claim 16, furthercomprising adding a dye to the substrate. 18: The method of claim 12,wherein the color ready wig is affixed to a mannequin's head. 19: Themethod of claim 12, wherein the color ready wig comprises a plurality ofhair bundles. 20: The method of claim 12, further comprising applying anacid to the substrate for a predetermined time interval for removal of acuticle and applying a second material to the acid and the substrate fora second time period after the first predetermined time interval forinterrupting a cuticle removal. 21: The method of claim 12, wherein thefirst predetermined time interval is different than the second timeperiod. 22: The method of claim 12, further comprising applying apermanent hair color to the color ready wig for training. 23: The methodof claim 12, further comprising applying a non-permanent hair color tothe color ready wig for training. 24: The method of claim 12, furthercomprising untreated raw human hair strands as the substrate. 25: Themethod of claim 12, further comprising applying an oxidizing agent tothe substrate. 26: The method of claim 12, further comprising: applyinga hair dye for a time period of one to sixty minutes and then rinsingthe hair dye from the substrate.